Machine for shaping the heel ends of shoes



July 14, 1953 w. BENEDICT EIAL 2,644,953

momma FOR SHAPING THE HEEL suns 0F SHOES 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 25, 1951 Inventors Wczlzer L. Benea z cf Harry D Gaodfiow Frank Pulsifer y 1953 w; L. BENEDICT ETAL 2,644,968

MACHINE FOR SHAPING THE HEEL ENDS OF SHOES 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 25, 1951 In uen ions WallerLBenedicz Her/51D. Goon now Eel/7k Pu/sffer y y July 1 1953 w. BENEDICT ETAL 2,644,968

MACHINE FOR SHAPING THE HEEL ENDS OF SHOES Filed Aug. 25, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor's \a/altep L. Benedict Harry D Gooanow Frank Pulslf'er July 14, 1953 w. L. BENEDICT ETAL 2,644,968

MACHINE FOR SHAPING THE HEEL ENDS OF SHOES Filed Aug. 25, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 [nveniam rLBeneaQhZ Harry 0 00dnow 'Hank Palsifer .beq-Afiesgzey July 14, 1953 w. L. BENEDICT EIAL 2,644,963

EACHINE FOR SHAPING THE HEEL suns OF SHOES Filed Aug. 25, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 mm 4 N\% w NM Na @k Inventors [Ma/fer L. Benedict Harry D. Goodnow Hank Pulsifer July 14, 1953 w. BENEDICT EIAL 2,644,968

MACHINE'FOR SHAPING THE HEEL ENDS 0F SHOES Filed Aug. 25, 195i 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 July 14, 1953 w. BENEDICT ETAL 2,644,968

MACHINE FOR SHAPING THE HEEL ENDS OF SHOES Filed Aug. 25, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 latented July 14, 1953 OFFICE MACHINE FOR SHAPING THE HEEL ENDS 0F SHOES Walter'L. Benedict, Stoneham,-'Harry D. Goodnow,-Wellesley, and Frank Pulsifer, Hamilton, Mass assignors 'to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N.

v of New Jersey I J a corporation Application August 25, 1951, Serial No. 243,642

. 1 This invention relates to a "machine for shaping the heel ends of shoes and,more particularly, to a novel and improved machine for automatically trimming the peripheries of heels attached to shoes and the adjacent marginal portions of the outsoles of the shoes to shapes corresponding to the shapes of the heel ends of the shoes. v A principal object of this invention is to provide a 'machine of the aforementionedtype in which the shoe is carried on a support which is turned, to cause a heel-shaping tool to operate along the entire periphery of the heel end of the shoe, and which is moved, to position the heel end of the shoe, relatively to theheel-shaping tool, by power-operated means under the control of shoe-engaging feelers. More particularly, and in accordance with features of the invention, the herein illustrated machine has a power-driven heel-shaping tool comprising a'trimming cutter for shaping the attached heel and adjacent portion of the outsole of a shoe and a randing cutter for trimming the upper surface of the outsole, a shoe support and mechanism-for revolving and rotating the support, successively, to'cause the tool to operate along the entire periphery of the heel end of the shoe, from the corner of the heel breast on one side of the heel to the corner of the heel breast on the opposite side of the heel, and is provided with three "fluid-pressure-open ated motors arranged, respectively, to move the shoe support toward and away from the tool, tov move the shoe support in a direction heightwise of the shoe and to tilt the shoe support, relatively to they tool. These three.fluid-pressure-operated motors are each controlled by a so-called jet relay and the three jet relays are operated by a pair of feelers. One of these feelers, which operates the jet relays for controlling the fluid-pressure-operated motors that move the shoe support toward and away from the tool and heightwise of the shoe, is arranged to enter intothe rand crease of the shoe and thus engagethe heel end of the shoe and the upper surface of the outsole. The other feeler, which operates the jet relay for controlling the fluid-pressure-operated I motor that tilts the shoe support, is arranged to engage the attached heel, adjacent to its tread surface. Thus, as the shoe support is revolved and rotated, successively, it is moved, relatively to the tool, by the fluid-'pressure-operated motors, under the control of the shoe-engaging feelers, in such a way that the-tool automatically trims the attached heel andadjacent portion of the outsole to a shape corresponding exactly to the shape of the heel end of the shoe'with'the heel 'end of 50Claims. (01.12-87) the shoe presented to the tool in definite heightwise and angular positions, as determined by the feelers. r

Preferably, and in'the herein illustrated machine, the heel-shaping operation is started just forwardly of the corner of the heel breast on one side of the heel and is terminated'just forwardly of'the corner of the heel breast on the opposite sideof the heel. Inasmuch as the extension of the rand crease curves inwardly, beyond the heelbreast-line, the heel-trimming cutter tends to cut more deeply into the marginal portion of the outsole at the beginning and termination of the heelshaping operation, as the feeler which determines the lateral position of the heel end of the shoe enters the rand crease extensions on each side of the shoe. To avoid the aforementioned action of the heel-trimming cutter and with'the view of facilitating the blending of the marginal edge of the outsole, which is trimmed in a subsequent operation, with those portions thereof which are trimmed during the shaping of the heel end of the shoe, the subjectmachine is provided,'-in accordance with another feature of the invention, with an auxiliary feele'r which is arranged to determine the lateral position of the heel end of the shoe'at the beginning and termination of the heel-shaping operation." More particularly, this auxiliary feeler comprises a memberwhich is adapted to engage the outwardly extending sides of the shoe, above the rand crease in locations forwardly of the heel breast line, at the beginning and termination of the heel-shaping operation; In this manner, the main feeler is prevented from riding down into the inwardly curving rand crease extensions and the lateral position of the shoe is determined by the auxiliary feeler. Due to the outwardly extending sides of the shoe which are engaged by theauxgreatly facilitating the blending of the subsequently trimmed edges of the outsole with those portions thereof which are trimmed at the beof the heel-shaping of the heel-shaping tool is arranged to trim the upper surface of the outsole-which, together with the side of the heel end of the shoe, forms the rand crease. For the best results in randing, it is desirable that the randing cutter operate as closely as possible to the bottom of the rand crease. In order to have the randing cutter operate in such close proximity to the feeler which rides in the rand crease and, at the same time, avoid any possibility of interference between the randing cutter and this feeler, in the subject machine, the randing cutter, in accordance with a further feature of the invention, is associated with this feeler. More particularly, the randing cutter is rotatably mounted on a member which supports the feeler and is connected to the trimming cutter of the power-driven heel-shaping tool by means of a universal drive connection. Thus, a fixed relationship is established between the feeler and the randing cutter so that interference between these elements is impossible. Yet, due to the universal drive connection, the feeler is free to move, both laterally and in a heightwise direction, to effect the positioning movements of the shoe holder.

As suggested above, the shoe support is revolved and rotated, successively, to cause the heel-shaping tool to operate along the entire periphery of the heel end of the shoe. Preferably, and in accordance with another feature of the invention, these movements of the shoe holder are effected by means of a fluid-pressure-operated motor. More particularly, the shoe support comprises a shoe holder which is mounted for revolution and rotation and means are provided for revolving and rotating the shoe holder including a pair of cams, arranged to be rotated by a fluid-pressure-operated motor and operable, when rotated, to revolve and rotate the shoe holder successively.

These and other features of the invention will appear in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and will be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a heelshaping machine embodying the features of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1, with certain parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation of a portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1, with certain parts broken away and others shown in vertical section;

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of a portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1, with certain parts in vertical section substantially on line IVIV of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a detail view of certain operating elements of the machine with some parts shown in vertical section, substantially on line V-V of Fig. 2;

Figs. 6 and 7 are views of certain parts of the machine, illustrating the operation thereof;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view of the various fluid-pressure-operated devices and control.elements embodied in the machine; and

Fig. 9 is an electrical diagram. 7

Referring to these drawings, the machine herein illustrated is adapted to shape the heel end of a shoe, from heel-breast to heel breast, automatically, moving the shoe from a loading position to a location in which a shaping tool engages the periphery of the heel end, in a location adjacent to the corner of the heel breast on one side of the heel, revolving and rotating the shoe, suecessively, to cause the tool to operate along the entire periphery of the heel end, to the corner of the heel breast on the opposite side of the heel, moving the shoe to withdraw its heel end from the tool, and finally revolving and rotating the shoe reversely to return it to its loadin position. During the operation of the machine and while the tool is shaping the heel end of the shoe, the shoe is positioned, relatively to the tool, by means of lateral, heightwise and angular movements which are imparted to the shoe holder by fluid-pressure operated positioning motors under the control of shoe-engaging feelers. Thus, the operator is relieved of all effort and responsibility of manipulating and positioning the shoe and is merely required to load and unload the shoes and to start the machine.

As shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, the machine has a shaping tool, indicated generally by the reference character 20 and comprising a lower heel-trimming cutter 22 and an upper randing cutter 24, see Figs. 6 and 7. The tool 20 is connected to the upper end of a drive shaft 26 which is mounted in a bearing block 28, Fig. 4. This bearing block is carried by a bracket 30 which is secured to a portion of a main frame construction, indicated generally by the reference character 32. The drive shaft 26 is connected to an electric motor 34, supported on the main frame construction, by means of pulleys 36, 38 and belts 40, Fig. 1. This motor is connected to a main power line 42, 44, as indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 9. During the operation of the machine, the shoe with its attached heel is supported, and revolved and rotated, successively, to present the entire periphery of its heel end to the action of the shaping tool 20 by means of a jack, or shoe holder, indicated generally by the reference character 50, and the position of this shoe holder, and hence of the heel end of the shoe being shaped, relatively to the tool 20, is controlled by a pair of feelers, indicated respectively by reference characters 52 and 54, Figs. -2, 3, 4, 6 and 7, in a manner which will appear below.

The shoe holder comprises an L-shaped base plate 60, Fig. 2, which is mounted on the upper end of a shaft 62, Fig. 4. This shaft is journaled in one arm 64 of a spider 55 having three other arms 66, 68 and 10, Fig. 2. The spider is mounted for rotation on a table casting 12 by means of a centrally located stud H, see Fig. 4, and four anti-friction rollers 16,.Fig. 2, which engage a downwardly extending peripheral flange TB on the spider, Fig. 4. The table casting 12 is supported for rectilinear sliding movement toward and away from the shaping tool 20 on a pair of rods 80, which pass through bearing bushings 82, 82, pressed into portions of the table casting, see Fig. 2. These rods are supported in bosses 84, '84, formed on a box-like frame casting 86, having side walls 81-, 81 and a bottom portion 88, Fig. 4. This frame casting is mounted for vertical sliding movement on four rods 90, which pass through bearing bores 92, 92 formed in four other bosses 94, 94, which project from this casting, Figs. 2 and 3. These rods are secured in four bracket members 96, 96 which are bolted to a base casting, indicated generally by the reference character 98. This base member has a bottom portion I00 and a pair of upwardly extendin triangularly shaped arms I02, I02, Figs. 2 and 3. Secured to each of these arms is a stud I04 and these studs are each journaled in a. roller bearing I06 which is mounted on a 5 bearing bracket I08 associated with the frame construction 32.

With the arrangement just described, the shoe holder 50 is mounted for rectilinear movement, toward and away from the tool 20, for vertical sliding movement, in a direction heightwise of a shoe thereon and parallel to the axis of the tool, and for tilting movement about a horizontal axis yy passing through the bearings I06, I06 and substantially tangent to the feeler 52, see Fig. 2 The shoe holder is also mounted for rotation about the vertical axis of shaft 62, relatively to the spider 65, and for revolution about the vertical axis of the stud 14, together with the spider. As suggested above, these several movements are imparted to the shoe holder by means of fluidpressure-operated motors. Referring to Fig. 4, a cylinder I20 is pivotall connected to thelower side of the table casting 12 by means of a trunnion pin I22. Fitted in this cylinder is a piston I24 which is connected to a portion of the frame casting 86 by means of a piston rod I26. Leading from the ends of this cylinder, on the opposite sides of the piston I24, are a pair of flexible conduits I28, I 30, see also Fig. 8. As will be apparent, when fluid under pressure is admitted to one end of the cylinder I20 and exhausted from its other end, the cylinder will be caused to move, relatively to the piston, thus effecting rectilinear movement of the table casting I2 and of the shoe holder 50 thereon, toward or away from the shaping tool 20.

Secured to and extending downwardly from the bottom portion 88 of the frame casting, is a piston rod I40, Figs. 1, 3 and 4, and this piston rod is formed with a piston I42, Fig.8, which is fitted in a cylinder I44, carried by the base member 98, Figs. 1 and 4. Leading from the opposite ends of this cylinder, on the opposite sides of the piston I42, are a pair of flexible conduits I46 and I48 by means of which fluid under pressure may be admitted to one end of thecylinder and exhausted from its other end to effect vertical sliding movement of the frame casting 86 and shoe holder 50 which is mounted thereon. As shown in Fig. 1 there is pivotally mounted, by means of a trunnion pin I50 and bracket I5I, on the bottom portion I00 of the base casting 98, a cylinder I52. Fitted in this cylinder is a piston I54, see Fig. 8, which is formed on the upper end of a piston rod I56. This rod is connected, by a trunnion pin I58, to a bracket I60 which is mounted in the lower part of the main frame construction 32. Leading from the ends of this cylinder are a pair of flexible conduits I62, I64, not shown in Fig. 1 but illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 8. When fluid under pressure is admitted to one end of the cylinder I52 and exhausted from its opposite end, the base casting 98 and parts carried thereby, including, of course, the shoe holder 50, will be tilted up or down about the horizontal axis y-y, Fig. 2, passing through the bearings I06, I06. To facilitate such tilting movement of the shoe holder, a considerable portion of the weight of the parts so moved is counterbalanced by a pair of coil springs I66, I66 which are stretched between pins I68, I68, carried by the main frame construction 32, and downwardly extending brackets I10, I on the base casting 98,

see Fig.3.

For rotating and revolving the shoe holder 50, the following arrangement is provided. As previously explained, the shoe holder is rotatably mounted on the arm, 64 of the spider 65, by means of the shaft 62, while the spider, in turn, is ro- 'tatably mounted on the table casting 12 by means 2I2 which meshes with one set of gear teeth ona double rack 2I4. This rack is slidably sup: ported in a guideway 2I6, formed on a portion of the table casting I2, and in mesh with its other set of teeth isa pinion 2I8. This pinion is rotatably mounted on a slide 220, supported in a second guideway 222 on the table casting, and is in mesh with a rack 224 which is fixed to the table casting, see Fig. 3. The slide 220 carries a roller 226 which rides in a cam groove 228, formed on a cam 230 which is secured to a shaft 23I,.journaled in the table casting. This cam track is so shaped as to cause reciprocation of the slide 220, during certain portions of each revolution of the cam 230 and to hold the slide stationary during other portions of the revolution of this cam. As will be apparent, when the slide 220 is thus moved along the guideway 222, the shoe holder will be rotated, together withthe shaft 62, relatively to the arm 64 of the spider 65.

Secured to the lower side of the arm I0 of the spider 65 is a gear quadrant 250 which meshes with one set of teeth on a double rack 252, Fig. 2. This rack is supported in a third guideway 254, formed in a portion of the table casting 12, and in mesh with its other set of teeth is a pinion 256. This pinion is rotatably mounted on a slide 258, supported in a fourth guideway 260 on the table casting, and is in mesh with a rack 262 which is fixed to the table casting. This slide carries a roller 264 which rides in a cam groove 266, formed on a second cam 268 whichis secured to a shaft 269, journaled in the table casting. The cam groove 266 is SO shaped as to cause reciprocation of the slide 258, during certain portions of each revolut of the cam 266 and to hold the slide stationary, during other portions of the revolution of this cam. Hence, when the slide 258 is thus moved along the guideway 260, the spider 65 and shoe holder 50, which is carried thereby, will be revolved around the axis of thestud l4. Secured to the lower side of the table casting 12 is a dovetailed guide 280, Fig. 4, on which there is mounted a rack bar 282. This rack bar is provided with two sets of rack teeth 264, 286 which are a pair of flexible conduits are in mesh, respectively, with pinions 288, 290,

secured to the shafts 23I, 269, Figs. 2 and 3. Connected to this rack bar, by means of. a trunnion pin 292, is a piston rod 294, Fig. 3, which carries a piston 296, diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 8. This. piston is fitted within a cylinder 298 which is mounted on the table cast ing 12 and leading from the ends of this cyl inder, on the opposite sides of the piston 266, 299 and .300. When fluid under pressure is admitted to one end of the cylinder 298 and exhausted from its opposite ends, the rack bar 282 will be moved along on the dovetail guide 280 and the cams 230 and 268 rotated. The cam tracks 228 and 226 onthese cams are so shaped and angularly disposed that, upon movement of the-raok bar 202 to the right, Figs. 2 and 3, the shoe holder 60 is first revolved in a clockwise direction, with the spider 65, through a partial turn, then the spider is held stationary and the shoe holder is rotated in a clockwise direction, and, finally, the shoe holder is held against rotation and the spider is again revolved. Upon return of the rack bar to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the shoe holder is revolved and rotated reversely.

Referring again to the shoe holder 50, as already pointed out this comprises the L-shaped base plate 60 which is mounted on the upper end of the shaft 62, Fig. 4. This plate is formed with a heel tread surface 302 and a sole tread surface 304, Fig. 3, and has adjustably mounted thereon a heel-breast-engaging abutment 306. Secured to this base plate is an upwardly extending curved arm 308 which has an end 3I0 which is located directly over the heel tread surface 302, Fig. 3. Attached to the lower side of the end 3I0 of this arm are a pair of down wardly extending flanges 3I2, 3I2, while mounted on the top thereof is a housing member 3I4 provided with a cylindrical portion 3I6. This cylindrical portion is journaled in a bearing bushing 3I8, carried by a second curved arm 320 and in axial alinement with the shaft 62. The arm 320 is mounted on a cover member 322 which is secured to the upper side of the spider 65, Fig. 4. A plunger 324, having an abutment block 326 on its lower end which is fitted between the flanges 3I'2, 3I2, is slidably mounted in the end portion 3I0 of the arm 308 and in the housing member 3I4 thereon. A coil sprin 320 is arranged to urge this plunger downwardly, to the extent permitted by a cam bar 330 which is slidably mounted in the housing 3M and provided with an operating handle 332, Fig. 1. This cam bar passes through an opening, not shown, in the upper end of the plunger 324 and is so shaped that upon movement thereof in one direction the plunger is elevated, against the resistance of the spring 328, while upon movement of the cam bar in the opposite direction releases the plunger for downward movement by this spring. For clamping a shoe S on the holder 50, an adaptor block 340 is used. This adap block comprises a pin 342 for entering the hole in the cone of the last. L, an abutment fla e 344 for engaging the cone of the last and an upwardly extending rectangularly shaped Web 346 which is arranged to fit between the flan 3I2, 3I2. In loading a shoe into the machine, the operator flrst places the adaptor block on the cone of the last, then he positions the shoe on the base plate 60, with its heel tread on the surface 302 and its sole on the surface 304 and with the web 346 between the flanges 3I2, 3I2, and after moving the shoe to bring the breast of the heel against the abutment 306, he D- erates the cam bar 330 to release the p u 324 for downward movement by the sprin 328 to clamp the heel end of the shoe in loaded position on the holder. To release the shoe, after the heel-shaping operation, the operator merely moves the cam bar 330 in the opposite direction to elevate the plunger 324.

The supply of fluid under pressure to, and exhaust from, the opposite ends of the cylinders I20, I44 and I52 is controlled, respectively, by means of three so-called jet relays, indicated generally by the reference characters 400, 402 and 404, see Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 8. These three jet relays are all of the same construetionand are similar to the jet relay disclosed and claimed in an application for United States Letters Patent Serial No. 243,641, filed August 25, 1951. Referring first t0 the jet relay 400, which controls the supply of fluid under pressure to, and exhaust from, the opposite ends of the cy i d I20, this is illustrated in some detail in Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawings. Briefly described, this relay comprises a cylindrical housing 4I0 which is mounted on a base plate 412, Fig. 5. Supported on this base plate, within the housin M0, is a block 4I4 provided with two discharge passages M6, M8 and a supply passage 420. The two discharge passages M6, M8 are connected, respectively, to two apertures 422, 424 formed in a receiver disk 425 which is mounted on the upper surface of the block M4. The supply passage 420 is connected to the lower ends of two tubes 423, 423 which are mounted in the block H4 and extend upwardly within the cylindrical housing 0. At their upp ends, these tubes are secured to a header block 421 and are connected, by means of a passage, not shown, to the upper end of a flexible tube 426 which is secured to the header block, Fig. 1. At its lower end, the tube 426 is provided with a jet nozzle 430, the discharge end of which is positioned close to the upper surface of the receiver disk 425. As illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 8, the supply passage 420 in the block 4 is connected to a conduit 43I which is supplied with fluid under pressure from a pump 432, through a pressure regulating valve 433 and high-pressure line 434, while the discharge passages M6, 8 are connected, respectively, to the conduits I30, I28 leading from the opposite ends of the cylinder I20.

The jet nozzle 430 is normally urged toward a centered position with respect to the apertures 422, 424 in the receiver disk 425, by means of a pair of leaf springs 436, 436 which are supported on the block M4 and bear against a pair of plates 438, 438 mounted on the jet nozzle. Slidable in a gland 440, fitted in the housing 4 I 0, is a plunger 442 which is connected to one of the plates 438 by means of a strip of spring metal 444. As is explained in detail in the aforementioned application, when the jet nozzle 430 is in its centered position and pressure fluid is supplied thereto from the conduit 43I, the fluid under pressure discharged from the nozzle will be delivered equally into the two apertures 422, 424 with the result that the passageways H6, H8 and conduits I28, I30 connected thereto will be supplied with fluid under pressure which is equalized on the opposite sides of the piston I24, excess pressure fluid discharging into the housing 4I0 from which it is returned to a sump 446 by means of an exhaust line, not shown. However, if the jet nozzle 430 is displaced from its centered position, by movement of the plunger 442 in either direction and as permitted by the flexibility of the tube 426, the pressure of the fluid on the opposite sides of piston I24 will immediately become unbalanced, due to the excess of pressure fluid delivered to .one or the other of the apertures 422, 424. Accordingly, the piston I24 will be moved along in the cylinder I20 as fluid under higher pressure is admitted to one end of the cylinder and fluid under lower pressure exhausted from the other end thereof and will be held stationary when the pressure of the fluid is equalized.

For thus moving the plunger 442, to control the action of the piston I24, which, as already explained, moves the table casting I2 and shoe holder 50 thereon toward or away from the tool 20, the following arrangement is provided. As will be explained in detail below, the shoe-engaging feeler 52 is mounted on one end of an arm 452, Figs. 2, 4, 6 and 7. The other end of this arm is bifurcated and connected, by means of bearing pins 454, 454, to a sleeve 456, Fig. 5. This sleeve is rotatably and slidably mounted, by means of a bushing 458, on the reduced end 459 of a shaft 460 which is journaled in a bracket member 46I, associated with the main frame construction, by means of ball bearings 462, 462. The arm 452 is pivotally mounted on one end of a second arm 464, Fig. 2, which is bifurcated at its other end and connected to the shaft 460 by means of pin bearings 466, 466, Fig. 5. Rotatably connected to the sleeve 456 is a rod 468 which passes through a guide bushing 410 and is connected to a block 412. This block, in turn, is connected tothe plunger 442 by means of a flexible metal strip 414 and'the block and the plunger are held against rotation by means of a lug 416 which rides in a groove 416 formed on a part of the bracket 46 I. A coil spring 480, stretched between one end of the arm 452 and a part of the bracket 46I, Fig, 2, tends to move the sleeve 456 to the right, Fig. 5, until its right-hand end engages an adjustable stop collar 482, mounted on the bracket 46I. When the sleeve is in this position, the jet nozzle 430 will be displaced to the right, Fig. 5, to the left, Fig. 8, from its normal centered position so that fluid under higher pressure is delivered to the conduit I30 thereby causing the table casting I2 to be moved in a direction to carr the shoe holder toward the tool 20, i. e., to the right as viewed in Figs. 4 and 8. If a shoe is mounted on the shoe holder, such movement of the table casting will bring the heel end of the shoe into engagement with the feeler 52 and, by swinging the arm 452 in a counterclockwise direction about its pivotal connection on the arm 464, against the resistance of spring 480, will move the sleeve 456, and hence the jet nozzle 430, to the left as viewed in Fig. 5 and to the right in Fig. 8, thereby returning it to centered position and arresting movement of the table casting I2, shoe holder 50 and the shoe thereon. Thereafter, as the shoe holder is revolved and rotated, to cause the tool 20 to 0perate around the entire periphery of the heel end of the shoe, this feeler will detect any departure of the heel end of the shoe from its proper position, relatively to the tool, and by movement of the jet nozzle 430 will cause the table to be moved in a direction to restore the heel end of the shoe to proper position, in a manner to be explained below. Thus the fluid-pressure-operated motor, i. e., piston I20 and cylinder I24, jet relay 400, and the shoe-engaging feeler 52, together with the shoe itself, form a closed loop servo mechanism which automatically positions the heel end of the shoe, laterally with respect to the tool 20.

The vertical sliding movements of the frame casting 86 are produced by the piston I42 under the control of a jet relay 402. This jet relay is similar to the relay 400 just described, and thus has a cylindrical housing 490 in which there is housed a flexible jet pipe 492, diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 8, that receives pressure fluid from the line 43I and discharges it, through a jet nozzle 493, into apertures formed in a jet receiver plate and thence, through passages 494, 496, to the conduits I46, I48. As in the case of the jet relay 400, this nozzle is normally centered with respect to these apertures by means of leaf springs and has connected to it a plunger 49.8, see

Fig. 2, by means of which it may be displaced from its center position to control the action of the piston I42. This plunger is connected to the lower end of an arm 50!] which is secured to the shaft 460, Fig. 4. Hence, when the feeler 52 and arm 452, to which it is attached, are elevated or depressed, the piston I42 will be caused to move in its cylinder I44, thereby effecting vertical movement of the frame casting 06 together with the shoe holder 50. Thus, the piston I42, cylinder I44, jet relay 402, and feeler 52, together with the shoe, form a second closed loop servo mechanism which automatically positions the heel end of the shoe in a heightwise direction, relatively to the tool 20. Swinging movement of the arm 500 is limited by a pair of stop screws 502, 504, see Fig. 4, and a coil spring 506 stretched between the housing 490 and the arm 500 tends to swing, this arm in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4, thereby moving the arm 452 downwardly and displacing the jet nozzle 493 of the relay 402, to the right Fig. 8, to a position in which fluid under high pressure is admitted to the conduit I48 through passageway 496. When this nozzle isso positioned, the piston I42 will be moved upwardly in cylinder I44 and the frame casting 86, table casting T2 and shoe holder 56 elevated. I

Tilting movements of the base casting 98 are produced by movements of the cylinder I52 under the control of the third jet relay 404. Like the other two relays, this jet relay has a cylindrical housing 5), Figs. 1, 3 and 4, WhiCh'hOllSGS a flexible jet pipe 5I2 diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 8. This flexible pipe is connected to the pressure line. 43l and is provided with a jet nozzle 5I4 which is arranged to discharge fluid under pressure into apertures in a jet receiver plate and thence,through passages 5I6, 5I0 to the conduits I62, I64. This jet nozzle is normally held in centered position, relatively to the apertures in its receiver plate, by means of leaf springs and is arranged to be displaced from its centered position by means including a plunger 520, see Fig. 2, connected thereto and extending out through the housing5l0. Thus, the cylinder I 52, piston I54, jet relay 404 and feeler 54, together with theshoe itself, form a third closed loop servo mechanism for determiningthe angular position of the heel end of the shoe relatively to the tool. This plunger is operatively connected to'the feeler 54 in the following manner. Referring to Fig. 2, this feeler is generally arcuate in shape and is located just beneath the shaping tool 20, see Fig. 4. Preferably'this feeler is of the same radius as, and. is generally concentric with, the heel trimming cutter '22. At its opposite ends, this feeler is secured to a pair of rods 522, 522, Fig. 3, which are slidably supported in a housing member 524, associated with a drive shaft 26 and shaping tool 20. These rods are joined together by a crossbar 526, Fig. 2, and extending downwardly from this crossbar is an arm 528, Fig. 4. The plunger 520 is connected to the lower end of this arm by means of a flexible metal strip 530, Fig. .2. A coil spring 532, shown in Fig. 4 and diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 8, is arranged to urge the jet nozzle 5I4 toward a position in which fluid under high pressure is supplied to the conduit I64, soas to cause the base casting 98' to be swung in a counterclockwise direction, from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1, to an extent determined by the engagement of a stopv screw 534, mounted on one of the arms I02, with a fixed surface on the main frame construction 32, see Figs. 1 and 3.

In order to provide a fully automatic operating cycle of the machine, the following auxiliary control devices are provided. To avoid confusion, certain of the elements of the secondary control devices have been omitted from the drawings. Actually these omitted elements, which are included with the other in the diagrammatic views of Figs. 8 and 9, are mounted on the upper surface of the frame construction 32 just to the right of the jet relays 402 and 404. Referring particularly to Figs. 8 and 9, a solenoid 600, having a coil 602 and an armature 604, is arranged to displace the jet nozzle 430 of the relay 400, in opposition to the action of the spring 480, thus to position this jet nozzle so as to cause the table casting I2 and shoe holder 50 thereon to be moved away from the shaping tool 20. As shown in Fig. 2, the sleeve 456 carries a rearwardly extending pin 606 which is in line with one end of a bell-crank lever 608, Fig. 5. This bell-crank lever is pivoted on the bracket 46I and connected at its opposite end to the armature 604 of the solenoid 600. When the coil 602 of this solenoid is energized, the sleeve 456 will be moved to the left, Fig. 5, thereby displacing the jet nozzle 430 to a position in which fluid under high pressure is supplied to the left-hand end of the cylinder I20 and causing the table casting and shoe holder to be moved to the left and away from the shaping tool 20. A solenoid 6I0, having a coil N2 and an armature H4, is arranged to displace the jet nozzle 493 of the relay 402, in opposition to the spring 506, to a position in which fluid under high pressure is admitted through passage 494 and conduit I46 to the cylinder I44 above the piston I 42 therein, thereby causing this piston to move the frame casting 86, table casting I2 and shoe holder 50 downwardly to their lowermost positions. The armature 6I4 of this solenoid is connected to one end of a lever 6I8 which is pivoted on a portion of the bracket 46I, Fig. 2, with its other end in line with the lower portion of the arm 500, see also Fig. 4. Similarly, a solenoid 620, having a coil 622 and armature 624, is arranged to displace the jet nozzle I4 of the relay 404, in opposition to the spring 532, to a position in which fluid under high pressure is admitted through passage 5I6 and conduit I62 to the cylinder I52 above the piston I54 therein, thereby causing the base casting 9B and shoe holder to be swung in a clockwise direction to the extent permitted by a stop screw 628, mounted on one of the arms I02 with a fixed surface on the main frame 32, Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 2, the armature 624 of this solenoid is connected to a lever 629 one end of which extends in back of the arm 528 which is associated with the feeler 54.

The conduits 299, 300 which lead to the opposite ends of the cylinder 296, Fig. 3, are connected to a reversing valve 630, comprising a housing 632 and a rotary valve member 634, diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 8. The high pressure line 434, leading from the pump 432, is connected to one side of this valve, while an exhaust line 636, leading back to the sump 446, is connected to the opposite side thereof. This rotary valve member is adapted to be turned within its casing 632 so as to connect either one of the conduits 299 or 300 to the high pressure line 434, while the other conduit is connected to the exhaust line 636. For thus.

turning the valve member, there is connected to it, by means of an arm 640 and connecting rod 642, a piston 644 which is fitted in a pivotally mounted cylinder 646. The opposite ends of this cylinder are connected to a second reversing valve 648, by means of flexible conduits 650, 652. This reversing valve has a casing 654 with a valve plunger 656 slidable therein to connect either one of the conduits 650, 652 with a low-pressure line 658 while the other conduit is connected to the exhaust line 636. The low pressure line 658 is connected to the high-pressure line 438 through a pressure-reducing valve 660, diagrammatically shown in Fig. 8. For reciprocating the valve plunger 656 to control the operation of the piston 644 and hence to actuate the first reversing valve 630, a double acting solenoid 662 is provided. This solenoid has two coils 684, 666 and two armatures 668, 610, see Fig. 9, and these two armatures are connected to the valve plunger 656 by means of a lever 672, see Fig. 8.

Referring particularly to the electrical diagram shown in Fig. 9, the motor 34 which drives the heel-shaping tool 20 is in a line I00, connected between the main power lines 42, 44 and adapted to be closed by a relay switch I02, the coil 104 of which is in a second line I06 containing two manually operated switches 108, HO. Parallel to the line I06 is another line II2 having two branches H4, H6. The coil 666 of the double solenoid 662 that operates the reversing valve 648, Fig. 8, is in the branch line II4 which is adapted to be closed when switch I08 is operated to open the line I06. The line H6 is connected to the line II4 by means of a shunt line I I8 and is adapted to be connected to the power line 42 by a normally open switch I20. The coil I22 of a relay switch I24 is connected in the line H6 and this switch is adapted to close a line I26. The coil 602 of the solenoid 600 is in line I26 while the coil 6I2 of solenoid 6H) and coil 622 of solenoid 620 are in branches I30, I3I of a line I28, this line being connected to the power line 42 through a switch I32. When the machine is at rest, this switch is held closed, against the action of a compression spring I33, by a cam I35 on the piston rod 642, Fig. 8. A mechanical latch I34 is arranged to hold the relay switch 124 closed against the action of a. spring I36 and connected to this latch is the armature I38 of a solenoid 140 having a coil I42. This coil is in a branch line I44 which is parallel to a second branch line 146, these two branch lines being connected to the power line 42 by a line I48 in which there is a manually operated switch I50. The other coil 664 of the double solenoid 662, which operates the reversing valve 648, is in the line I46.

When the machine is at rest, the shoe holder 50 and spider are in the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the table casting I2 being shifted away from the tool 20, Fig. 2, over to the left as viewed in Fig, 8, since jet nozzle 430 is biased to the right by solenoid 600, and the base casting 98 is tilted in a clockwise direction from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 8 to the extent permitted by the stop screw 628, inasmuch as the jet nozzle 5I4 is biased to the left, Fig. 8, by the armature 624 of solenoid 620. At this time, the frame castin 86 is held in its lowermost position, by the action of jet nozzle 493 which is moved to the left, Fig. 8, by the armature 614 of solenoid 6I0. Assuming that the operator has loaded a shoe S 13 having an outsole S0, attached heel H and rubber heel lift R, into the shoe holder 50, in the manner explained above, a completely automatic heel-shaping cycle isstarted by closing the switch I50. Prior to the closing of this switch, the motor 34 which drives the heel-shaping tool, will have been set into operation by the closing of the switch H0, this switch remaining closed as long as the machine is in use. As a result of the closing of the switch F58, the coils 664 and I42 of solenoids 662 and I40 are energized. Now the valve plunger 656 is shifted to the left, Fig. 8, by the armature 668 of the solenoid 662, to a position in which low pressure fluid is admitted to the right-hand end of the cylinder 646 so that the pistonv I344 is moved to the right, Fig. 8, at a speed which is controlled by a throttle valve 320 in the conduit 850. Such movement of this piston rotates the valve member 634 in a counterclockwise direction to a position in which high pressure fluid is admitted to the left-hand end of the cylinder 298, through conduit 300, so that the piston 295 and rack bar 282 connected thereto are moved to the right, Figs. 2 and 8, to rotate the cams 230 and 268 in a clockwise direction, Fig. 2, and thereby eiTect clockwise revolution and rotation of the shoe holder 50. The speed of movement of the piston 296 is controlled by a throttle valve 822 in the conduit 299 and its movement is, of course, delayedsomewhat by the action of the throttle valve 820. Hence, before the cams 230, 268 start to rotate, the latch I34 is released by the action of the armature I88 of the solenoid I40, thereby deenergizing the coil 602 of the solenoid 600 and releasing the jet nozzle 430 to the action of its spring 480, nozzle is immediately moved to a position in which fluid under high pressure is delivered to the righthand end of the cylinder I20, Fig. 8, thereby causing the table casting I2 and shoe holder 50 thereon to move to the right, Figs. 1 and 8, upwardly in Fig. 2, to present the heel end of the shoe to the shaping tool 20.

Movement of the piston 644 to the right in Fig. 8 also releases the switch 132 for opening by its spring I33 to ole-energize the coils 6I'2'and 622 of the solenoids 6I0 and 620. Upon de-energization of these coils, springs 506 and 532immediately move the jet nozzles 493 and SM to the right, as viewed in Fig. 8, thereby causing the frame casting 86 tobe moved upwardly Joy the piston I42 and the base casting 98 to be swung in a counterclockwise direction by the cylinder H52. The sequence of the movement of the table casting toward the tool, of the frame casting upwardly, and of the counterclockwise swinging movement of the base casting is such that the heel end of the shoe S first engages the feeler 52 in a location well above the rand crease Rd and with the rubber heel lift R swung away from the feeler 54, see Fig. 6, then, as the shoe moves 7 upwardly, the feeler 52 travels down the curved heel end of the shoe and into the rand crease. At the same time the rubber heel lift R is brought into engagement with the feeler 54 as a result of the counterclockwise swingin movement of the base casting 98. Eventually the shoe assumes the position in which it is shown in Fig. 7 in which the three J'et nozzles 430,- 493 and I4 have been moved into their centered positions by the action of the shoe on the feelers 52 and 54. Im-

mediately thereafter, the shoe holder 50 starts to'revolve in a clockwise direction, see solid arrow, Fig. 2.

As the shoe holder continues to revolve, the

This 1 tool 20 operates along the relatively straight portion of one side of the heel and the feeler 52, which rides in the rand crease Ra, causes the shoe holder to be moved toward or away from the tool in such a way as to correct for difierences between the desired shape of the heel end of the shoe, as detected by the feeler 52, and the arcuate path of movement of the heel, as de-' termined by its distance from the axis of stud I4,- Figs. 2 and 4. Just as the more sharply curved end portion of the heel is reached, the spider is held stationary while the shoe holder is rotated in a clockwise direction, see solid arrow, Fig. 2, about the axis of the shaft 62, Figs. 2 and 4, the feeler 52 now causing the shoe holder to be moved toward or away from the tool to correct for differences between the desired shape of the heel and the arcuate path of movement ofthe heel, as determined by its distance from the axis of the shaft 62. Next, as the relatively straight portion of the opposite side of the heel is reached, the shoe holder is held stationary on the spider while the spider is revolved, in a clockwise direction, during the remaining portion of the heel-shaping operation. As the shoe holder is thus revolved and rotated, suc-, cessively, to cause the tool 20 to operate along the periphery of the heel end of the shoe, the frame casting 86 may be moved upwardly or downwardly by the piston I42, in' a direction heightwise of the shoe, under the control of the jet relay 402 and feeler 52, to compensate for variations in the heigh twise position of the rand crease Ra, relatively to the tread surface of the heel lift R, and the base casting 98 may be swung about the axes of the bearings I06, I06,by the cylinder I52, under the control of the jet relay 484 and feeler 54, to provide the desired pitch of the heel as determined by the conjoint action of the two feelers 52 and 54. The operation of thepiston I42 and cylinder I52, which effect, respectively, the heightwise and tilting movements of the shoe holder, may be modified and stabilized by means of throttle valves 830, 832, as shown in Fig. 8. Similarly, a throttle valve 834, is connected between the conduits I28 and I38 which conduct pressure fluid from the jet relay 400 to the opposite sides of the piston I24. The operation of this piston which effects lateral movement of the shoe holder, is further stabilized by means of expansion chambers 836, 838 connected, respectively, to the conduits I 28 and I30 through throttle valves 835 and 831.

'Just as the tool 20 passes beyond the breast corner of the heel, on the side opposite to where it started, the rack bar 252 engages and closes the switch I20, see Fig. 2. The closing of this switch energizes the coils 866 and I22 of the solenoid .662 and the relay switch I24, thereby causing this switch to close and the armature 610 to return the valve plunger 656 to its original position, see Fig. 8, the coil 668 of the solenoid 662 having been deenergized 'upon release of the starting switch I58. The latch 134 now engages Ithe'switcl1 I24 and holds it in closed position since the coil "I42 was likewise deenergized when the starting switch was released. The closing of the switch I24 causes the armature 604 to displace the jet nozzle 430, against the action of springs 480, to a position in which the table casting I2 is moved to carry the heel end of the shoe away from the tool. Upon return of the valve plunger 656 to the position shown in Fig. 8, piston 644 is moved to the left, as fluid is exhausted from the cylinder 646, through an open check 15 valve 840, to shift the valve member 634 back to its original position. Fluid under high pressure is now admitted to the right-hand end of the cylinder 298, through a branch of the conduit 299 in which there is a check valve 842 and a throttle valve 646. This check valve opens in a direction to permit high-pressure fluid to move the piston 296 to the left at a relatively rapid speed which, however, is controlled by the throttle valve 846. Movement of this piston and the rack bar 282 which is connected thereto rotates the cams 230, 268 in a counterclockwise direction, Fig. 2, thereby returning the shoe holder to its original position. As the piston rod 642 reaches its original position, the switch 132 is closed by cam 135 and coils BIZ and 624 of the solenoids 6l0 and 620 are energized. Jet nozzles 493 and M are now displaced by the armatures H4 and 624 to positions in which high-pressure fluid is delivered to the conduits I46 and I62 so that the piston 42 moves the frame casting 06 to its lowermost position, while cylinder I52 swings the base casting 98 in a clockwise direction to the extent determined by stop screw 6l8, thus completing the automatic operating cycle.

The switch I08 is provided for safety purposes and is normally disposed in the position shown in Fig. 9 in which position it connects the, coil 104 of the relay switch 102 across the power lines 42, 44. If for any reason the operator wishes to terminate the heel-shaping operation during the automatic cycle, he merely displaces the switch 108 to the left, and as a result of such movement of this switch, the heel-shaping tool will be stopped and the shoe holder returned to its starting position, in the following manner. Movement of the switch to the left opens the line 1053, thereby deenergizing the coil 104 of the relay switch 102 and permitting this switch to be opened by its spring 103 to disconnect the motor 34 from the power lines and thereby bring the heel-shaping tool 20 to a stop. Such movement of this switch also closes the branch line H4 and, as will be apparent from Fig. 9, due to the shunt line H8, the closing of the branch H4 has the same effect as the closing of the branch line H6 by switch 120. As already explained, when the branch line H 6 is closed, the shoe holder is withdrawn from the tool, moved downwardly, swung in a clockwise direction, and returned to its starting position.

Referring again to the heel shaping tool 20, it has already been explained that this tool comprises a lower heel trimming cutter 22 and an upper randing cutter 24. As is shown more particularly in Figs. 6 and '7, the heel trimming tool comprises a hub portion 900 which carries two cutting blades 902 and is secured to the upper end of the shaft 26 by means of a cap screw 904. Only one of the two cutting blades 902 appears in Fig. 6 and is therein shown in full lines; both of these blades being shown in Figs. 6 and '7 in broken lines to illustrate a different angular position of the hub 900. The randing cutter 24 has a pair of angularly disposed cutting blades 906, 906, located between the blades 902, 902 of the heel trimming cutter, and is secured to a hub member 908 by means of screws 9l0, 910, and a clamping ring 912, Fig. 6. The hub member 908 is formed with a shaft 9|4 which is rotatably mounted, by means of ball bearings 9l6, 9|8, in a bearing block 920 and is held in place by means of a nut 922 and a bearing cover 924. The bearing block 920 has a pair of oppositely extending flanges, one of which 16 appears in Fig. 6 and is identified by the reference character 926, and is received in a bore 929 formed in the downwardly extending flange portion 930 of a bracket 932. Clamping screws 934, 934, which pass through holes 936 and 936, formed respectively in the flange portion 930 and flanges 926, are threaded into a bored rearwardly extending portion 940 of the feeler 52 and serve to secure the bearing block and feeler to the bracket 932. This bracket is adjustably connected, by means of screws 942, to a member 944 which is secured to the outer end of the arm 452 by a clamp nut 946.

The randing cutter is connected to the hub 900 of the heel trimming cutter by means of a universal joint construction including a yoke 950, the two legs of which carry rollers 952 which are fitted in bores 954 formed in the hub. This yoke is pivotally connected to a two-piece trunnion member 956, by means of a pin 956, and this trunnion member is rotatably mounted within a cross bore 960, formed in the clamping ring 912, and fits into a bore 96! in the randing cut ter. The feeler 52 has an arcuately shaped operating edge 962, of a radius somewhat greater than the radius of the randing cutter, see Fig. 2, which is rounded OK so as to fit substantially into the bottom of the rand crease Ra, Fig. 7. In back of this rounded off operating edge, the feeler is undercut at 964 to provide a clearance space for the randing cutter blades 906, 906. The holes 936 in the flange portion 930 of the bracket 932 are elongated to permit adjustment of the feeler 52 rearwardly of the randing cutter and, to facilitateaccurate adjustment of the feeler, relatively to the randing cutter, and thus assure proper randing of the heel, a setscrew 966 is threaded into the bracket 932 and arranged to bear against the rearwardly extending portion 940 of the feeler 52, Fig. 6. Adjustably mounted on the upper side of the feeler 52, by means of a clamp screw 968 and a slot 910, is an auxiliary feeler 912, the purpose of which will presently appear.

As will be understood from the above description of the construction and operation of the herein illustrated machine, the heel-end shaping operation is entirely automatic and all that the operator is required to do is to place each shoe on the shoe holder 50, with its heel breast against the abutment 306, Fig. 3, clamp it in place by operating the cam bar 332, start an automatic cycle of the machine by closing the switch 150, Fig. 9, and remove the shoe after the heel-shaping operation has been completed. During the automatic operating cycle of the machine, the heel end of the shoe is moved into engagement with the heel-shaping tool 20 and the shoe holder 50 is revolved and rotated successively, to cause the tool to operate along the entire periphery of the heel end of the shoe, from the corner of the heel breast on one side of the heel to the corner of the heel breast on the opposite side thereof. After the heel-shaping operation has been completed, the shoe holder is moved away from the tool and returned to its starting position. As the tool 20 operates to shape the attached heel and adjacent portion of the outsole of the shoe, and to trim, or rand, the upper surface of the outsole, the position of the heel end of the shoe, laterally, heightwise and angularly, with respect to the tool, is determined by the feelers 52 and 54 which operate the jet relays 400, 402 and 404 for controlling the operation of the three fluid-pressure-operat- 17 ed motors to effect the lateral, heightwise'and tilting movements of the shoe holder. The feeler 52 rides in the rand crease Ra of the heel end of the shoe and accordingly engages the heel end of the shoe to cause the heel-trimming cutter 22 (blades 962, 902) to trim the attached heel H and rubber heel lift R to a shape corresponding exactly to the shape of the heelend of the shoe. This feeler also engages the upper surface of the outsole So to cause the shoe holder to be moved in a direction heightwise of the shoe so as to maintain the upper surface of the outsole in a definite heightwise position relatively to the tool 20. In this connection, it is pointed out that on some shoes the rand crease is flat and parallel to the tread surface of the heel lift so that no heightwise movement of the shoe holder is required, or effected. On other types of shoes, however, the rand crease may curve upwardly, at a slight angle, in the vicinity of the back of the heel, as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. When operating on shoes of this type, the shoe holder is moved in a direction heightwise of the shoe to maintain the upper surface of the outsole So in a definite heightwise position, relatively to the tool. The trimming cutter 22 is, of course, maintained in a predetermined heightwise position by the shaft 25. Since the heightwise position of the feeler 52 is determined by the rand crease Ra and the randing cutter 24 is mounted on this feeler, such heightwise movements of the shoe holder, in effect, maintain the upper surface of the outsole in a definite heightwise position, relatively to the randing cutter. The feeler 54 engages the peripheral surface of the rubber heel lift R, adjacent to its tread surface, and by causing tilting movements of the shoe holder, determines the angular position of the heel end of the shoe, relatively to the tool 20, thereby producing the so-called pitch of the heel.

As will be apparent from an inspection of Fig. '7, the angular position of the heel end of the shoe is actually determined by the conjoint action of the feleler 52, which rides in the rand crease Ra, and the feeler 54, which engages the peripheral surface of the rubber heel lift, so that the pitch of the heel is governed by the location of the peripheral edge of the rubber heel lift R with respect to the rand crease Ra. The amount of heel extension may be varied by adjustment of the feeler 52, relatively to the trimming cutter 22, by loosening the screws 942, 942 and changing the position of the feeler supporting bracket 932 with respect to the feeler-operating arm 452. It will be understood, of course, that when the heel extension is increased or decreased, the position of the heel lift must be correspondingly varied to provide the proper pitch.

Forwardly of the corner of the heel breast on each side of the heel, theextension of the rand crease Ra curves inwardly from the marginal edge of the outsole S and, both at the beginning and termination of the heel-shaping operation, the feeler 52 rides into this inwardly curving portion of the rand crease. In this connection, it may be explained that the abutment 306, Fig. 2, is so positioned that the heel-trimming cutter 20 first engages the marginal portion of the outsole,

just ahead of thecorner of the heel breast on one side of the heel, at thebeginning of the heelshapin operation, and also that the switch 120, Fig. 2, is so located that the heel-trimming operation is continued slightly beyond the corner of the heel breast on the opposite side of the heel.

If the feeler 52 were permitted to enter and follow this inwardly curvingportion of the rand crease, at the beginning of the heel-shaping operation, and to ride into it at the termination of the heel-shaping operation, the shoe holder 50 would be moved toward the tool thereby causing the tool to cut somewhat'more deeply into the outsole in these two locations.

In order to avoid'the aforementioned action of the tool, at the beginning and termination of the heel-shaping operation, the auxiliary feeler 912 is provided. As will be apparent in Fig. 7, this'auxiliary feeler is so positioned on the feeler 52 that it nearly touches the outer surface of the heel end of-the shoe, above the rand crease, when the feeler 52 is in the rand crease, during the heel-shaping operation. Substantially at,

and forwardly of theheel-breast-line, the sides of the shoe above the rand crease extend outwardly beyond the extension of the rand crease for a greater distance than they do directly above the heel seat of the shoe. Thus, at the beginning of the heel-shaping operation, the auxiliary feeler 912 engages the outwardly extending side of the shoe and prevents the tool 20 from cutting more deeply into the'outsole than itdoes after the shoe holder has been revolved to cause the feeler 52 to enter the rand crease Ra and the auxiliary feeler to leave the side of the shoe. Similarly, at the termination of the heel-shaping operation, the auxiliary feeler comes into contact with the outwardly extending side of the shoe and prevents the tool from cutting more deeply into the outsole than it did during the heel-shaping operation. Accordingly, when the marginal portion of the outsole is subsequently trimmed, its edges can readily be blended into those portions thereof forwardly of the heelbreast line which were trimmed by the tool 20' claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: 1. A machine for shaping the heel ends of shoes having, in combination, a power-driven tool of said power-operated means including a feeler adapted to engage the heel endof the shoe and operable to effect movement of the shoe support,

toward and away from the tool, as the support is turned, thereby causing the tool to trim the attached heel and adjacent portion of the heel end of the outsole to a shape corresponding to the shape of the heel end of the shoe, as detected by said feeler.

2. A machine for shaping the heel ends of shoes having, in combination, a power-driven tool for trimming theattached heel and adjacent portion of the heel end of the outsole of a shoe, a support for the shoe, mechanism for revolving and rotating said support, successively, to cause said tool to operate along the entire periphery of the heel end of the shoe, from the corner of the heel breast. on one side of the heel to the corner of the heel breast on'the opposite side thereof, power-operated means for moving the shoe sup- 19 port toward and away from the tool, and means for controlling the operation of said power-operated means including a feeler adapted to engage the heel end of the shoe and operable to effect movement of the shoe support, toward and away from the tool, as the support is revolved and rotated, thereby causing the tool to trim the attached heel and adjacent portion of the heel end of the outsole to a shape corresponding to the shape of the heel end of the shoe, as detected by said feeler.

3. A machine for shaping the heel ends of shoes having, in combination, a power-driven tool for trimming the attached heel and adjacent portion of the heel end of the outsole of a shoe, a support for the shoe, mechanism for turning said support to cause said tool to operate along the entire periphery of the heel end of a shoe on the support, from the corner of the heel breast on one side of the heel to the corner of the heel breast on the opposite side thereof, a fluid-pressure-operated motor for movingthe shoe support toward and away from said tool, and means for controlling the operation of said fluid-pressureoperated motor including a feeler adapted to engage the heel end of the shoe and operable to effect movement of the shoe support, toward and away from the tool, as the support is turned, thereby causing the tool to trim the attached heel and adjacent portion of the heel end of the outsole to a shape corresponding to the shape of the heel end of the shoe, as detected by said feeler.

4. A machine for shaping the heel ends of shoes having, in combination, a power-driven tool for trimming the attached heel and adjacent portion of the heel end of the outsole of a shoe, a support for the shoe, mechanism for revolving and rotating said support, successively, to cause said tool to operate along the entire periphery of the heel end of a shoe on the support, from the corner of the heel breast on one side of the heel to the corner of the heel breast on the opposite side thereof, a fluid-pressure-operated motor for moving the support toward and away from said tool, and means for controlling the operation of said fluid-pressure-operated motor including a feeler adapted to engage the heel end of the shoe and operable to effect movement of the shoe support, toward and away from the tool, as the support is revolved and rotated, thereby causing the tool to trim the attached heel and adjacent portion of the heel end of the outsole to a shape corresponding to the shape of the heel end of the shoe, as detected by said feeler.

5. A machine for shapingthe heel ends of shoes having, in combination. a power-driven tool for trimming the attached heel and adjacent portion of the heel end of the outsole of a shoe,

a support for the shoe, mechanism for revolving and rotating said support, successively, to cause said tool to operate along the entire periphery of the heel end of a shoe on the support, from the corner of the heel breast on one side of the heel to the corner of the heel breast on the opposite side thereof, a fiuid-pressure-operated motor for moving the shoe support toward and away from said tool, and means for controlling the operation of said fluid-pressure-operated motor including a jet relay and a feeler adapted to engage the heel end of the shoe and operable to effect movement of the shoe support, toward and away from the tool, as the support is revolved and rotated, thereby causing the tool to trim the attached heel and adjacent portion of the heel end of the outsole to a shape corresponding to 20 the shape of the heel end of the shoe, as detected by said feeler.

6. A machine for shaping the heel ends of shoes having, in combination, a power-driven tool for trimming the attached heel and adjacent portion of the heel end of the outsole of a shoe, a support for the shoe, mechanism for turning said support to cause said tool to operate alon the entire periphery of the heel end of a shoe on the support, from the corner of the heel breast on one side of the heel to the corner of the heel breast on the opposite side thereof, means for determining the position of the heel end of the shoe, laterally with respect to said tool, including a positioning member arranged to engage the heel end of the shoe, power-operated means for tilting the shoe support to vary the angular position of the heel end of the shoe, relatively to said tool, and means for controlling the operation of said power-operated means including a feeler adapted to engage the attached heel, adjacent to its tread surface, and operable to effect tilting movement of the shoe support, as the support is turned, thereby to present the heel end of the shoe to said tool in a definite angular position as determined by said positioning member and said feeler.

7. A machine for shaping the heel ends of shoes having, in combination, a power-driven tool for trimming the attached heel and adjacent portion of the heel end of the outsole of a shoe, a support for the shoe, mechanism for revolving and rotating said support, successively, to cause said tool to operate along the entire periphery of the heel end of a shoe on the support, from the corner of the heel breast on one side of the heel to the corner of the heel breast on the opposite side thereof, means for determining the position of the heel end of the shoe, laterally with respect to said tool, including a positioning member arranged to engage the heel end of the shoe, power-operated means for tilting the shoe support to vary the angular position of the heel end of the shoe, relatively to said tool, and means for controlling the operation of said power-operated means including a feeler adapted to engage the attached heel, adjacent to its tread surface, and operable to eiiect tilting movement of the shoe support, as the support is revolved and rotated, thereby to present the heel end of the shoe to said tool in a definite angular position, as determined by said positioning member and said feeler.

8. A machine for shaping the heel ends of shoes having, in combination, a power-driven tool for trimming the attached heel and adjacent portion of the heel end of the outsole of a shoe, a support for the shoe, mechanism for turning said support to cause said tool to operate along the entire periphery of the heel end of a shoe on the support, from the corner of the heel breast on one side of the heel to the corner of the heel breast on the opposite side thereof, means for determining the position of the heel end of the shoe, laterally with respect to said tool, including a positioning member arranged to engage the heel end of the shoe, a fluid-pressure-operated motor for tilting the shoe support to vary the angular position of the heel end of the shoe, relatively to said tool, and means for controlling the operation of said fluid-pressure-operated motor including a fecler adapted to engage the attached heel, adjacent to its tread surface, and operable to effect tilting movement of the support, as the support is turned, thereby to present the heel end of the shoe to said tool in a definite angular position, as

21 determined by said positioning member and said feeler.

9. A machine for shaping the heel ends of shoes having, in combination, a power-driven tool 'for trimming the attached heel and adjacent portion of the heel end of the outsole of a shoe, a support for the shoe, mechanism for revolving and rotating said support, successively, to cause said tool to operate along the entire periphery of the heel end of a shoe on the support, from the corner of the heel breast on one side of the heel to the corner of the heel breast on the opposite side thereof, means for determining the position of the heel end of the shoe, laterally with respect to said tool, including a positioning member arranged to engage the heel end of the shoe, a fluidpressure-operated motor for tilting the shoe support to vary the angular position of the heel end of the shoe, relatively to said tool, and means for controlling the operation of said fluid-pressureoperated motor including a feeler adapted to engage the attached heel, adjacent to its tread surface, and operable to effect tilting movement of the support, as the support is revolved and rotated, thereby to present the heel end of the shoe to said tool in a definite angular position, as determined by said positioning member and said feeler.

10. A machine for shaping the heel ends of shoes having, in combination, a power-driven tool for trimming the attached heel and adjacent'portion of the heel end of the outsole of a shoe, a support for the shoe, mechanism for revolving and rotating said support, successively, to cause said tool to operate along the entire periphery of the heel end of a shoe on the support, from the corner of the heel breast on one side of the heel to the corner of the heel breast on the opposite side thereof, means for determining the position of the heel end of the shoe, laterally with respect to said tool, including a positioning member arranged to engage the heel end of the shoe, a fluidpressure-operated motor for tilting the shoe sup port to vary the angular position of the heel end of the shoe, relatively to said tool, and means for controlling the operation of said fluid-pressureoperated motor including a jet relay and a feeler adapted to engage the attached heel adjacent to its tread surface and operable to effect tilting movement of the support, as the support is revolved and rotated, thereby to present the heel end of the shoe to said tool in a definite angular position, as determined by said positioning memher and said feeler.

11. A machine for shaping the heel ends of shoes having, in combination, a power-driven tool for trimming the attached heel and adjacent portion of the heel end of the outsole of a shoe, a support for the shoe, mechanism for turning the support to cause said tool to operate along the entire periphery of the heel end of a shoe on the support, from the corner of the heel breast on one side of the heel to the corner of the heel breast on the opposite side thereof, power-operated means for moving the shoe support toward and away from, the tool, to determine the position of the heel end of the shoe, laterally, with respect to said tool, power-operated means for tilting the shoe support tovary the angular position of the heel end of the shoe, relatively to said tool, and means for controlling the operation of said two power-operated means including a pair of feelers, said feelers being adapted, respectively, to engage the heel end of the shoe and the attached heel, adjacent to its tread surface, and operable, re-

, 22 spectively, to effect movement of said support, toward and away from the tool and tilting of the support, as the support is turned, thereby causing port for the shoe, mechanism for revolving and ro-- tating said support, successively, to cause said tool to operate along the entire periphery of the heel end of a shoe on the support, from the corner of the heel breast on one side of the heel to the corner of the heel breast on the opposite side thereof, power-operated means for moving the support toward and away from the tool to determine the position of the heel end of the shoe, laterally, with respect to said tool, power-operated means for tilting the shoe support to vary the angular posi-- tion of the heel end of the shoe, relatively to said tool, and means for controlling the operation of said two power-operated means including a pair of feelers, said feelers being adapted, respectively, to engage the heel end of the shoe and the attached heel, adjacent to its tread surface, and 0perable, respectively, to effect movement of said support toward and away from the tool and tilting of said support, as the support is revolved and rotated, thereby causing said tool to trim the attached heel and adjacent portion of the heel end of the outsole to a shape corresponding to the shape of the heel end of the shoe with the heel end of the shoe presented to said tool in a definite angular position, as determined by said feelers.

13. A machine for shaping the heel ends of shoes having, incombination, a power-driven tool for trimming the attached heel and adjacent portion of the heel end of the outsole of a shoe, a support for'the shoe, mechanism for turning the support to cause said tool to operate along the entire periphery of the heel end of a shoe on the support, from the corner of the heel breast on one sideof the heel to the corner of the heel breast on the opposite side thereof, a fluid-pressure-operated motor for moving the shoe support toward and away from the tool to determine the position of the heel end of the shoe, laterally with respect to said tool, a fiuid-pressure-operated motor for tilting the shoe support to vary the angular position of the heel end-of the shoe, rela-' tively to said tool, and means for controlling the operation of said fluid-pressure-operated motors including a pair of feelers, said feelers being adapted, respectively, to engage the heel end of the shoe and the attached heel, adjacent to its tread surface, and operable, respectively, to effect movement of said support toward and away from the tooland tilting of the support, as the support is turned, thereby causing said tool to trim the attached heel and adjacent portion of the heel end of the outsole to a shape correspondin to the shape of the heel end of the shoe with the heel end of the shoe presented to said tool in a definite angular position, as determinedby said feelers.

14:. A machine for shaping the heel ends of shoeshaving, in combination, a power-driven tool for trimming the attached heel and adjacent portion of the'heel end of the outsole of a shoe, a support for the shoe, mechanism for revolving 23, and rotating the support, successively, to cause said tool tooperate along the entire periphery of the heel end of a shoe on the support, from the corner of the heel breast on one side of the heel to the corner of the heel breast on the opposite side thereof, a fluid-pressure-operated motor for moving the shoe support toward and away from the tool to determine the position of the heel end of the shoe, laterally with respect to said tool, a fiuid-pressme-operated motor for tilting the shoe support to vary the angular position of the heel end of the shoe, relatively to said tool, and means for controlling the operation of said fluid- .pressure-operated motors including a pair of feelers, said feelers being adapted, respectively, to engage the heel end of the shoe and the attached heel, adjacent to its tread surface, and operable, respectively, to effect movement of said support toward and away from the tool and tilting of the support, as the support is revolved and rotated, thereby causing said tool to trim the attached heel and adjacent portion of the heel end of the outsole to a shape corresponding to the shape of the heel end of the shoe with the heel end of the shoe presented to said tool in a definite angular position, as determined by said feelers.

15. A machine for shaping the heel ends of shoes having, in combination, a power-driven tool for trimming the attached heel and adjacent portion of the heel end of the outsole of a shoe, a support for the shoe, mechanism for revolving and rotating the support, successively, to cause said tool to operate along the entire periphery of the heel end of a shoe on the support, from the corner of the heel breast on one side of the heel to the corner of the heel breast on the opposite side thereof, a. fiuid-pressure-operated motor for moving the shoe support toward and away from the tool to determine the position of the heel end of the shoe, laterally with respect to said tool, a fluid-pressure-operated motor for tilting the shoe support to vary the angular position of the heel end of the shoe, relatively to said tool, and means for controlling the operation of said fluid-pressure-operated motors including a pair of jet relays and associated feelers, said feelers being adapted, respectively, to engage the heel end of the shoe and the attached heel, adjacent to its tread surface, and operable, respectively, to effect movement of said support toward and away from the tool and tilting of the support, as the support is revolved and rotated, thereby causing tool to trim the attached heel and adjacent portion of the heel end of the outsole to a shape corresponding to the shape of the heel end of the shoe with the heel end of the shoe presented to said tool in a definite angular position, as determined by said feelers.

16. A machine for shaping the heel ends of shoes having, in combination, a power-driven tool comprising a trimming cutter for shaping the attached heel and adjacent portion of the heel end of the outsole of a shoe and a randing cutter for trimming the upper surface of the outsole, a support for the shoe, mechanism for turning the support to cause said tool to operate along the entire periphery of the heel end of the shoe, from the corner of the heel breast on one side of the heel to the corner of the heel breast on the opposite side thereof, means for determining the position of the heel end of the shoe, laterally with respect in said tool, power-operated means for moving the shoe support in a direction heightwise of the shoe, and means for controlling the operation of said power-operated means including a feeler adapted to engage the upper surface of the outsole and operable to effect heightwise movement of the shoe support, as it is turned, so as to maintain the upper surface of the outsole in a definite heightwise position, relatively to the tool, as determined by said feeler.

17. A machine for shaping the heel ends of shoes having, in combination, a power-driven tool comprising a trimming cutter for shaping the attached heel and adjacent portion of the heel end of the outsole of a shoe and a randing cutter for trimming the upper surface of the outsole, a support for the shoe, mechanism for revolving and rotating said support, successively, to cause said tool to operate along the entire periphery of the heel end of the shoe, from the corner of the heel breast on one side of the heel to the corner of the heel breast on the opposite side thereof, means for determining the position of the heel end of the shoe, laterally with respect to said tool, power-operated means for moving the shoe support in a direction heightwise of the shoe, and means for controlling the operation of said power-operated means including a feeler adapted to engage the upper surface of the outsole and operable to effect heightwise movement of the shoe support, as it is revolved and rotated, so as to maintain the upper surface of the outsole in a definite heightwise position, relatively to the tool, as determined by said feeler.

18. A machine for shaping the heel ends of shoes having, in combination, a power-driven tool comprising a trimming cutter for shaping the attached heel and adjacent portion of the heel end of the outsole of a shoe and a randing cutter for trimming the upper surface of the outsole, a support for the shoe, mechanism for turning the support to cause said tool to operate along the entire periphery of the heel end of the shoe, from the corner of the heel breast on one side of the heel to the corner of the heel breast on the opposite side thereof, means for determining the position of the heel end of the shoe, laterally with respect to said tool, a fiuid-pressure-operated motor for moving the shoe support in a direction heightwise of the shoe, and means for controlling the operation of said fiuid-pressure-cperated motor including a feeler adapted to engage the upper surface of the outsole and operable to effect heightwise movement of the shoe support, as it is turned, so as to maintain the upper surface of the outsole in a definite heightwise position, relatively to the tool, as determined by said feeler.

19. A machine for shaping the heel ends of shoes having, in combination, a power-driven tool comprising a trimming cutter for shaping the attached heel and adjacent portion of the heel end of the outsole of a shoe and a randing cutter for trimming the upper surface of the outsole, a support for the shoe, mechanism for revolving and rotating said support, successively, to cause said tool to operate along the entire periphery of the heel end of the shoe, from the corner of the heel breast on one side of the heel to the corner of the heel breast on the opposite side thereof, means for determining the position of the heel end of the shoe, laterally with respect to said tool, a fluid-pressure motor for moving the shoe support in a direction heightwise of the shoe, and means for controlling the operation of said fluid-pressure-operated motor including a feeler adapted to engage the upper surface of the outsole and operable to effect heightwise movement of the shoe support, as it is revolved and rotated, so as to maintain the upper 25 surface of the outsole in a definite heightwise position, relatively to the tool, as determined by said feeler. I

20. A machine for shaping the heel endsof shoes having, in combination, a power-driven tool comprising a trimming cutter for shaping the attached heel and adjacent portion ofthe heel end of the outsole of a shoe and a randing cutter for trimming the upper surface of the outsole, a support for the shoe, mechanism for revolving and rotating said support, successively, to cause said tool to operate along the entire periphery of the heel end of the shoe, from the corner of the heel breast on one side of the heel to the corner of the heel breast on the opposite side thereof,

means for determining the position of the'heel' end of the shoe, laterally with respect to said tool, a fluid-pressure motor, for moving the shoe support in a direction heightwise of the shoe, and means for controlling the operation of said fluidpressure-operated motor including a. jet relay and a feeler adapted to engage the upper surface of the outsole and operable to effect heightwise movement of the shoe support, as it is revolved and rotated, so as to maintain the upper surface of the outsole in a definite heightwise position, relatively to the tool, as determined by said'feeler. 21. A machine for shaping the heel ends of shoes having, in combination, a power-driven tool comprising a trimming cutter for shaping the attached heel and adjacent portion of the heel end of the outsole of a shoe and a randing cutter for trimming the upper surface of the outsole, a support for the shoe, mechanism for turning the support to cause said tool to operate along the entire periphery of the heel end of the shoe, from the corner of the heel breast on one side of the heel to the corner of the heel breast on the opposite side thereof, power-operated means for moving the support toward and away from the tool, to determine the position of the heel end of the shoe, laterally with respect to said tool, power-operated means for moving the shoe support in a direction heightwise of the shoe, and means for controlling the operation of said power-operated means including a single f eler adapted to engage the heel end of the shoe and the upper surface of the outsole and operable to effect movements of the shoe support toward and away from the heel and heightwise of the shoe, as it is turned, thereby causing the trimming cutter to trim the heel to a shape corresponding to the shape of the heel end of the shoe, while maintaining the upper surface of the outsole in a definite heightwise position, relatively to the tool, as determined by said feeler.

22. A machine for shaping the heel ends of shoes having, in combination, a power-driven tool comprising .a trimming cutter for shaping the attached heel and adjacent portion of the heel end of the outsole of a shoe and a randing cutter for trimming the upper surface of the outsole, a support for the shoe, mechanism for revolving and rotating said support, successively, to cause said tool to operate along the entire periphery of the heel end of the shoe, from the corner of the heel breast on one side of the heel to the corner of the heel breast on the opposite side thereof, power-operated means for moving the support toward. and away from the tool, to determine the position of the heel end of the shoe, laterally with respect to said tool, power-operated means for moving the shoe support in a direction heightwise of the shoe, and means for controlling the operation of said power-operated means including a single feeler adapted to engage the heel end of the shoe-and upper surface of the outsole and operable to effect movements of the shoe support towardand away from'the tool andheightwise of the shoe, as it is revolved and rotated, thereby causing the trimming cutter to trim the heel to a shape corresponding to the shape of the heel end of the shoe, while maintaining the upper surface of the outsole in a definite heightwise position relatively to the tool, as determined by said feeler.

23. A machine for shaping the heel ends of shoes having, in combination, a power-driven tool comprising a trimming cutter for shaping the attached heel and adjacent portion of the heel end of the outsole of a shoe and a randing cutter for trimming the upper surface of. the outsole, asupport for the shoe, mechanism for turning the shoe support to cause said toolto operate along the entire periphery of the heel end of the shoe, from the corner of the heel breast on one side of the heel to the corner of the heel breast on the opposite side thereof, a fluid-pressure-operated motor for moving the support toward and away from the tool, to determine the position of the heel end of the shoe, laterally with respect to said tool, a fluid-pressure-operated motor for moving the shoe support in a direction heightwise of the shoe, and means for controlling the operation of said fluidpressure-operated motors including a single feeler adapted to engage the heel end of the shoe and upper surface of the outsole and operable to effect movements of the shoe support toward andavvay from the tool and heightwise of the shoe, as it is turned, thereby causing the trimming cutter to trim the heel to a shape corresponding to the shape of the heel end of the shoe, while maintaining the upper surface of the outsole in a definite heightwise position, relatively tothe tool, as determined by said feeler.

24. A machine for shaping the heel ends, of shoes having, in combination, a power-driven tool comprising a trimming cutter for shaping the attached heel and adjacent portion of the heel end of the outsole of a shoe and a randing cutter for trimming the upper surface of the outsole, a support for the shoe, mechanism for revolving and rotating said support, successively, to cause said tool to operate along the entire periphery of the heel end of the shoe, from the corner of the heel breast on one side of the heel to the corner of the heel breast on the opposite side thereof, a fiuid-pressure-operated motor for moving the support toward and away from the tool, to determine the position of the heel end of the shoe, laterally with respect to said tool, a fiuid-pressure-operated motor for moving the shoe support in a direction heightwise of the shoe, and means for controlling the operation of said fluid-pressure-operated motors including a single feeler adapted to engage the heel end of the shoe and upper surface of the outsole and operable to effect movements of the shoe support toward and away fromthe tool and height- 

